3 Reasons to Not Rush Into Dating

It seems like everywhere you look you see another couple in love, while you remain alone. Every day one (or more) of your Facebook friends proudly boasts that they are "in a relationship" while you probably feel like your status will forever be "Single" or ''in a relationship with Netflix."

However, despite how you may feel, and maybe what those around you have been telling you, being single is a blessing! Being in a committed relationship is indescribable, but so is not having a partner! Both experiences can be the ultimate life lesson, designed by God to teach us more about Him and ourselves. 

As a single person you may feel lonely, while you should be feeling empowered, or unloved while you should be feeling unstoppable! Here's why:

You Have Time to Learn About Yourself - While you are single you can take time to explore your interests as an individual. Many people continue to do this while in a relationship, but a single person has the advantage of personal free time. It is completely appropriate to go to the movies alone, or switch hobbies 5 times a month, because you are learning about you. What you like to do, what you like to listen to, who you choose to hang out with; those are all important things to know when you eventually do start a new relationship. If you get to know yourself (and love yourself!) you will feel complete and you will have more of yourself to give.

You Can Move Quickly Towards Your Goal - Once you find out what you are passionate about, you have all the time in the world to pursue that passion! At this point, you can put 100% of your effort into doing whatever it is that motivates you, and into working towards your overall life goal.

You Have the Freedom to Practice Financial Responsibility - By freedom I mean you can make mistakes with few consequences, which only affect you. You are one person! It is easier to practice financial responsibility because you have less expenses. This may sound technical and unimportant, but knowing how to handle your money is vital. You can learn to set a budget for travel and the things you want. You can learn the difference between want you want and what you need. You can also learn that money isn't everything, and that wealth is meant to be shared. No one wants to be with someone who doesn't know the value of a dollar. 

There are many different kinds of love! 

Learn to enjoy the form of love in your life, whether it be towards yours Creator, your friends, your family, and especially yourself.

Don't miss out on a special form of love by constantly craving another.

Welcome New Kul Mom: Amanda DelValle

This has been a LONG time coming, but I would like to formally congratulate one of my dearest old friends, new Kul Mom Amanda DelValle (Aka Mandi, Aka Lola), and her fiance, Blake Holden, on the birth of their precious baby boy, Dean. 

On March 25th, 2015 this beautiful woman...

 

brought this handsome little package into the world!  

Over the past few months Dean has just gotten cuter and cuter! 

He enjoys sleeping, and...

SMILING!!!

 

 Mandi has always been an extremely gifted artist. This new addition to her life brought inspiration to create more exquisite things; Dean is her adorable muse! 

 

 

It is clear that Mandi and Dean are a match made in heaven.

 

Amanda, you are glowing and gorgeous! I knew that you would make a wonderful mother, Dean is very fortunate to have such a fabulously loving family. 

 

May your little family continue to grow in strong love and may God bless you and Blake, that you may never lack anything you need as long as you all live!  

I can't wait until our little boys are old enough to play and become friends. 

What Movies Make You Think

Everyday, millions of people watch millions of movies, all around the world. The film industry has one of the biggest influences on society. I mean, who doesn't love a good movie, right? 

What most people do not realize however, is just how much their love of silver screen classics has molded their frame of mind and view of life. 

Through this popular form of mass communication, any kind of behavior or idea can be implemented. This is where we get our ideas about romance and love, gender roles, and even acceptable human interactions. The cult classic Mean Girls, for example, led us to believe that emotional bullying in an intolerable act that will have negative effects on everyone involved, including the bullies. While the Disney animated feature Mulan, taught young girls everywhere that you do not have to be a boy to be a hero. 

Public displays of affection became popular because of the way romance was portrayed in early cinema in the mid to late 60's. Not only that, but because of films like Rebel Without a Cause youths began to question the very idea of happiness and began to pull away from the roles society had pushed on them.

Unfortunately, not all films share the same positive outlook of life. Movies like Jaws, which was meant to entertain, inspired an entire country's irrational fear of sharks. On the other hand, many real underground fight clubs sprouted shortly after the release of David Fincher's critically acclaimed film Fight Club.

Many studies show that watching increasingly violent films can desensitize the mind to real life violence. Meaning that we find blood, gore, and aggression more acceptable, which is UNACCEPTABLE! (pardon the redundancy)

Though is sounds silly, many people let Hollywood dictate how they live their lives. In many cases, instead of movies portraying reality, reality portrays movies. Among the most tragic examples of this is the death of young Mickey Culpepper, who lost his life at the age of 23 by playing Russian Roulette with friends shortly after watching the film The Deer Hunter.

I am not saying that movies kill people. They DO NOT!

The real danger posed by the film industry is that people are no longer thinking for themselves. Instead of provoking thought, films are implanting thoughts. It seems like now they tell us what to wear, who to love, what to buy, where to eat, how to interact with one another, and even how we should be having sex! 

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Movies are meant to inform and entertain, NOT to influence and manipulate. 

The next time you sit down to watch the latest box office hit, don't just consider how it makes you feel, be aware of WHAT IT IS MAKING YOU THINK.

 

A Kul Kind of Valentine

 Valentine's Day 2015 was cause for excitement and anticipation for people all across the country and in Puerto Rico. 

Everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, was out trying to get gifts that expressed their undying love to their significant other. The stores were full of white, red, and pink, balloons, chocolates, flowers! 

However, after all was said and done, this V-day was very low key for this Kul Mom and her family.

It started out as most days do with my wonderful husband cooking up breakfast. 

On the menu, egg, cheese, and roast beef sandwich!

And an ice cream cake for dessert! Sprinkles by yours truly. 

After a pretty average morning, Pedro went off to work and I put Nico down for a nap. 

I used my lovely 2 hours of Me Time on a Valentine's day make-over. 

BEFORE

AFTER

 Then, my date finally woke up!

Nico waited patiently while I got dressed...

He didn't look too bad himself!

And, after a thousand more pictures, we finally went to the park. 

 

He took some selfies...

I took some selfies...

And overall it was a very simple day full of the best kind of love!